| PGC 1470080 | |
|---|---|
 Hubble Space Telescope image of PGC 1470080 | |
| Observation data (J2000.0epoch) | |
| Constellation | Boötes |
| Right ascension | 14h 38m 45.035s |
| Declination | +14d 54m 12.56s |
| Redshift | 0.237274 |
| Heliocentric radial velocity | 71,133 km/s |
| Distance | 3.010Gly (922.87Mpc) |
| Surface brightness | 17.5 mag |
| Characteristics | |
| Type | BrCLG |
| Size | 571,000 ly |
| Other designations | |
| LEDA 1470080,2MASX J14384504+1454128, SDSSCGB 05343.01, WHL J143845.0+145412 BCG,2MASS J14384502+1454125,SDSS J143845.03+145412.5 | |
PGC 1470080 is a type E[1]elliptical galaxy located in theBoötes constellation.[2] It is located 3 billionlight-years away from theSolar System and has adiameter of 571,000 light-years,[3] making it atype-cD galaxy and one of thelargest.
It is thebrightest cluster galaxy of thegalaxy cluster, WHL J143845.0+145412.[4] The galaxy acts as agravitational lens for a much more distantspiral galaxy which is called SGAS J143845+145407.[2][5] This creates a mirror image of the galaxy thus creating a masterpiece.[5]
Such of this phenomenon occurs, when a massivecelestial body such as agalaxy cluster which creates sufficientcurvature of spacetime for the path of light to be bent by the lens.[5][6] This creates multiple images of the original galaxy which as seen, the background object appears as a distorted arc or a ring.[5]
This observation takes advantage of gravitational lensing to peer through early universe galaxies. It helps to reveal details of distant galaxies that is unobtainable and allowingastronomers to determinestar formation in such early galaxies.[5] Not to mention, it givesscientists a better insight on howevolution of galaxies have unfolded.[5] By using gravitational lensing is also a very useful tool which contributes significant new results in areas as different as thecosmological distance scale,dark matter in halos andgalaxy structures.[7]
According to theHubble image of PGC 1470080, it is shown to be a peculiarlenticular galaxy rather than an elliptical galaxy as expected.[2]
